Flashing



24, 1931. NORDGREN 1,793,821

FLASHING Filed May 14, 1928 Patented Feb. 24, 1931 TES rren ST GEORGE A. NORDGREN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FLASHING Application filed May 14, 1928. Serial No. 277,509.

r This invention relates in general to a flashing for a wall or roof and has more particular reference to a block insertable in a wall and adapted to engage the edge of a flashing strip '5 or covering for a roof deck or for the wall.

A further object is in the provision of a block of material which may be inserted in a wall as the wall is built and provided with means for releasably engaging the edge of a flashing strip inserted therein.

A still further object is in the provision of a drip surface in a flashing block and in the water-proofing joint between adjacent blocks of this kind.

Otherobjects will appear hereinafter, the accompanying drawing illustrating pre ferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a block construeted in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation showing a joint cover for adjacent blocks;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modification using a metal shell; and

Figure 4 illustrates the application of the block of Figure 1 to a brick wall and an adj acent roof deck.

In water proofing the flashing for a wall, usually at the place where it joins the surface of a roof it is common practice to turn up the edge of a bituminous coated fabric and to nail it to the wall at a distance above the roof. Even this does not prevent water from leaking in about the edge of the flashing strip and the edge attached to the wall has little or no protection so that it soon becomes loose, torn or damaged to such an extent that the least bit of moisture causes the roof to leak.

The present invention is provided to overcome these objections by providing a block which is built in the wall at the level of or slightly above the roof deck in which provision is made for receiving and positively engaging the edge of a flashing strip for hold- 0 ing it in place for protecting the edge and for providing means to release the edge of the strip for alterations and repairs.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a block 5 is provided at the top and bottom with recesses 6 and 7 for receiving the ordinary mortar 8 of a Wall for holding the block in place. A similar recess 9 may be provided for the back of the block if desired. Extending upwardly from the lower edge of the block is an inwardly tapering opening 10 adapted to receive a wedging strip 11 inserted from the outside thereof and to clamp the edge of a flashing strip 12 between the wedging block 11 and the recess for holding the edge of the strip 12 releasably in place. if this block 5 is made of wood, fibre or the like, a fastening nail 13 may be inserted through the strip 11 and into the block for releasably holding the flashing strip 12 in place and the nail 13 may be provided with a double head, as shown, for easily removing it when desired.

Extending outwardly beyond the face of the wall in which the block is set is a drip portion 1 1 having a lower dripping e lge 15 to protect and to direct water away from the recess 10.

In order to make a waterproof joint between the blocks, a strip 16 of metal or the like is attached to adjacent edges of the locks by nails 17 or other suitable fastening devices, and this strip is additionally posi tioned and secured in place when the wall is built by means of an offset 18 at the inner end which engages in the recess 6 at the top of the block and is held therein by the mortar 8 which fast-ens the block in place.

Instead of making the flashing block of wood, or the like, it is obvious that it may be made entirely of a material like brick or porcelain, or concrete, or a metallic shell 20 may have the general outline of the block 5, as shown more clearly in Figure 3, and this shell may be filled with a hardened plastic material 21 either before or aft-er the block itself is placed in position in a wall. In such a structure there is a drip surface 22, a recess 23 for receiving the wedging block 11 and the fastening nail 13 for holding the wedging strip in place.

For engaging the inner end of the fastening nail an extension 24: of the recess 23 is provided for receiving a dove-tailed strip 25 of wood or other similar material which may be engaged by the fastening nail 13. i

In some insulations it is possible to use a hollow metal sheet 20 without any filling material 21 inserted, the flashing block being retained in the wall by the engagement of the mortar in the recesses 6 and 7 at the top and bottom of the block. 'When the flashing blocks are made of hollow sheet material they maybe made in greater lengths than when inadeof solid pieces, the wedging strips 11 in each case, however, extending the full lengths of the wedging recesses, but the joints thereof not necessarily being identical with the joints of the blocks themselves.

In applying this flashing block to a wall 26 of brick, or the like, it is positioned directly above'the edge of a roof deck 21 supported by beams 28 set into the wall and the edge of the roofing material 12, as shown in Figure 1, may be extendedto engage in the recess of a block or if the roof deck is covered with several layers of bituminous material, as indicated in Figure 3, one or more of the roof layers 29 may terminate at the edge or close to the edge of the wall and be overlapped or covered by a separate flashing strip 30 secured in place in theflashing block; making a water-tight connection with the roof layers 39 by being pasted or secured thereto by means of a layer or coating of tar or other impervious material in accordance with well known practice.

A fillet 31 is commonly inserted at the edge ofthe roof to form a smooth connection with the wall and to prevent a sharp bend or break of the roofingmaterial at this point.

This flashing block is constructed of different materials, depending upon the structures to which it is applied, and if made of wood or fibre, as suggested in connection with Fig ure 1, the block may be nailed in place if desired. After the roof deck is complete the flashing strip may be inserted in place either before or after the rest of the waterproofing layers are in place, de ending upon the practice employed in app ying such layers. It is obvious that a number of flashing strips may be secured in place in this flashing block as well as a single layer or strip of flashing material,

I claim: s

1, A roof flashing block fora wall having a recess extending upwardly and inwardly and converging inwardly but having an enlarged portion at the inner end of the recess, a fastening strip seated in the enlarged portion, the converging portion adapted to receive" the edge of a flashing strip therein, a wedge insertable in the recess to bind the flashing strip therein, and means insertable through the wedge and into the said fastening strip for holding the Wedge in place. 2. A. roof flashing block to be built into a wall comprising a metal shell having arecess conver ing upwardly and inwardly with v an enlarged portion at the inner end, a nailing strip extending transversely in the enlarged portion, a'wedge for engaging a flashing strip inserted in the converging portion of the recess, and fastening means lnsertable through'the wedge and into the strip for removably holding the wedge 1n the block and a flashing strip in the recess.

3. A roof flashing block comprising a metal shell having a longitudinally extending rece'ss \vhichconverges inwardly and has a retaming-portion at the innerend of the recess, a nailing strip seated in the retaining portion, a ceme'ntiti'ous filler for the shell, a wedge insertable in the outeriportion of the recess to bind a flashing strip therein,jand means engaging the nailing strip for holding the Wedge tightlyin the recess.

GEORGE A. NORDGREN.

i fs 

